WebNovels

Chapter 1 - Welcome to the Villainess Department

The marble floors of the Female Lead Department gleamed like they'd been polished with rosewater and the souls of rejected side characters.

Shen Qingxue clicked across them in white heels that cost more than some people's lives. Her pastel pink dress fluttered around her like a sponsored ad. One manicured hand held her bubble tea, the other adjusted her oversized sunglasses.

Her face said "mysterious beauty." Her heart said, "Finally."

Today was her day.

After completing 999 side-character arcs and surviving everything from poisoned hairpins to flying bricks in villain back alleys, she was getting promoted. Finally. No more fake maid roles. No more tragic deaths in remote farming villages. No more pretending to sob in dusty attics while the male lead ignored her for a girl who thought cooking porridge made her wife material.

Ahead, the glass doors of the Female Lead Promotion Hall sparkled in welcome.

Inside, the air was sweet with peach blossom incense and the buzz of fluttering assistant systems.

Glowing script boards floated mid-air, advertising the latest top-rated romance arcs.

Qingxue paused in front of a massive wall poster.

A delicate woman in white was being held by a CEO with the emotional range of a toaster. The tagline read:

"She was the light in his world… but he only saw her after he broke her five times."

Qingxue sipped her drink loudly.

"Five times and you still married him? Girl. Call a lawyer."

Next to that was a historical drama ad. A concubine stood sobbing in the rain while the emperor knelt behind her, screaming at the sky like his salary depended on it. Plum blossoms scattered around them for no reason. The caption read:

"He killed her family… but it was all for love."

Qingxue muttered under her breath, "This department really promotes Stockholm Syndrome with extra glitter."

She pulled out her phone and took a selfie in front of it, posing dramatically with her hand on her forehead like she, too, had just lost her entire bloodline for romance.

"For the memories," she said. "Before I get handed my very own emotionally unavailable male lead with a six-pack and unresolved childhood trauma."

Today, she would finally become a female lead. 

Honestly, she deserved this. She'd done her time. She'd been the supportive friend, the tragic mistress, the noble girl who died in a fire to save the male lead's cat. She'd even played a mute concubine once. No lines, just crying and elegant silence. That was a low point.

But not anymore.

Today, she would be the main character.

She'd imagined it for years: the luxury scripts, the high-budget plotlines, the flattering lighting. The tragic piano OST. The kisses in the rain. The monologues that made people comment "Queen" under every chapter.

Finally she was getting her dream. 

The elevator dinged. A soft, robotic voice announced: "Shen Qingxue, please report to Director Bai's office. Immediately."

She paused, frowned. That wasn't the usual promotion room. Shouldn't she be getting champagne and a silk contract by now?

"Maybe it's just… confirmation paperwork," she told herself. "Or a surprise party. Afterall I single-handedly boosted world ratings last quarter."

Still, a tiny sliver of unease slid down her spine like a cold noodle.

Director Bai's office was on the top floor. A place rarely visited by people who weren't about to be reassigned or scolded.

She walked in confidently. No fear. Only a slight increase in bubble tea intake.

The office was quiet. Too quiet. A room where even the furniture looked like it was judging you.

Director Bai sat behind a dark lacquered desk, sleek black cheongsam crisp and perfectly pressed. Her hair was coiled into a smooth bun. Her expression was unreadable.

Qingxue bowed politely. "Director. I assume this is regarding my script upgrade? I'd prefer a modern romance this time. No horse riding. I still have back issues from that one ancient general arc."

Director Bai gestured to the chair.

Qingxue didn't sit. "I prefer to stand. Helps digestion."

"Fine!" Director Bai's voice was cool. "This won't take long."

That didn't sound promising.

Director Bai opened a thick file with a red ribbon around it. She flipped to the first page and read out loud, as if Qingxue wasn't sitting right there.

"World ID 2739. Assignment: Soft-spoken village healer. Mission: Provide minor medical support to the female lead. No involvement in major plotlines. No interaction with male leads.

"Shen Qingxue," she began, "you were assigned as a village healer in the last arc. A gentle background character."

"I was gentle. For the first ten chapters. I only stabbed someone once."

Director Bai raised an eyebrow.

"You framed the crown prince for treason. You married the third male lead under a fake name. You started an underground resistance that led to two provinces declaring independence."

Qingxue cleared her throat. "In my defense, that couple was moving way too slow. I sped things up."

"It was a slow-burn countryside romance. You turned it into a revolution drama."

"And the readers loved it."

"The male lead went bald from stress."

"I gave him character development."

Director Bai sighed the sigh of someone who had once had dreams. "You are not being promoted."

Qingxue froze. "Excuse me?"

"Due to your consistent inability to follow instructions, emotional sabotage of male leads, and high-volume plot distortion, you are being transferred."

"…To the Elite Drama Department?" she asked, hopefully.

"To the Villainess Rehabilitation Division."

The silence in the room was so thick it felt like a second person.

Qingxue blinked. "That feels a bit unfair. I just spiced things up in that novel and made it famous. Readers loved that."

"Well those readers threatened to sue us for ruining their favourite book." Director bai yelled annoyed. "You also received 94 system complaints, 12 death flags, and a formal letter of resignation from the original male lead."

"Still! It's unfair! I'm a female lead. I cry beautifully in rain. I've mastered the hurt-but-dignified expression. I did three whole arcs where I was secretly dying and still forgave everyone!"

Director Bai flipped the page. "You also hijacked a contract marriage plot and ran away with the villain's younger brother in one arc."

"He was emotionally neglected and had abs." 

"You have answer for everything, don't you!?" Director bai sighed with resign knowing she won't win the argument. She rubbed her temples and continued. "Anyways… You are going to be placed in the bodies of villainesses who died with heavy regrets. Your job is to complete their final wishes, clean up their messes, and—most importantly—not make things worse."

Qingxue's face went through five emotions in ten seconds. "So… I won't get a hot male lead who will kill for me in next arc?"

"No! But you will definitely get a hot male lead who will kill you instead." Director bai joked.

"But don't worry. If you complete all 4 arcs successfully then you can apply for female lead department again. Also.. you'll get credits too. Ten thousand per world."

"Ten thousand credits per world?" Qingxue's eyes sparked by the bribe. "Then ofcourse I am ready. I mean how bad it would be to complete a dying person's wish? At least villainess has good wardrobe in every arc." She picked up first arc's file. "I mean it's just 4 arcs. Time will pass easily."

"I like your confidence." Director bai smirked as she knew reality of villainess department.

It was not as it looked. Afterall once even she was punished by her boss to be part of villainess department."

"I'll get good system right? How is he like?"

Qingxue asked worried since she knew there is shortage of good systems in this department.

"He is… interesting. You'll find out when you'll meet him." Director bai said before handing her a chip.

Before she could ask more questions, a bright white light engulfed the room.

Transfer in Progress…

Her body felt like it was being spun through a washing machine full of angst. Voices screamed past her head.

"She ruined my life—!"

"She's crazy!"

"Mo Chen doesn't even love her!"

She landed hard, face-first, into a pillow made of swan feathers and broken dreams.

___

"What the hell!? So quick!?"

Qingxue groaned and pushed herself up, her hand brushing velvet sheets. She blinked. The room was enormous. Soft golden light poured in from crystal chandeliers. The bed was the size of a dance floor. Silk curtains. Embroidered pillows.

And on the wall above the bed was an enormous portrait.

She stared at it.

It was… her.

Or rather, the body she was now in.

Wrapped around a man in a tailored wedding suit. The man looked rich, cold, and criminally handsome. He stood straight and distant, like someone who wanted to be anywhere else. His jawline could cut glass. His eyes looked like they'd been carved from disappointment.

She, the villainess, clung to him like a koala on a caffeine high.

Qingxue slowly sat up, staring at the portrait in horror.

"Oh god," she whispered. "I'm a Yandere."

The air shimmered beside her.

And then it appeared.

A floating pink orb with bunny ears, glitter cheeks, and energy that felt like it had mainlined five cups of milk tea.

"HELLO! You're AWAKE! YES YES YES!" it shouted. "I'm System 043, nickname Baozi, but you can call me whatever you want, Host!"

Qingxue stared. "Why do you sound like an excited intern at a beauty counter?"

"I'm new!" the system beamed. "But don't worry, I've been loaded with all the mission data, tea, and gossip!"

It spun in place, then pulled up a glowing screen. "Welcome to your first arc! You are now inhabiting the body of Qin Rourou, 24 years old, former rich heiress and current scandal queen!"

"Why is my name already making me nervous?" Qingxue muttered.

"Because!" Baozi chirped. "Qin Rourou was obsessed with the male lead, Mo Chen. You may recognize him—he's the man in the portrait who looks like he's on the verge of self-combustion."

"Please don't tell me she stalked him."

"She didn't!" Baozi said brightly. "She threatened his family!"

Qingxue blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

Baozi nodded. "She offered to bankrupt the Mo family if he didn't agree to marry her. At the time, Mo Chen was still rising. No fortune yet. No power. Just an intelligent poor man with an emotionally stunted personality. And Qin Rourou pounced."

Qingxue groaned. "So she bullied him into marriage. Anything else?"

Baozi flipped the next page on the glowing report.

"She also forced him to break up with his girlfriend. The original female lead, Ye Wan."

"Of course her name is Wan," Qingxue muttered. "Sounds like she was born in a field of moonlight."

"She kind of was!" Baozi said. "Ye Wan was Mo chen's childhood sweetheart. Orphaned. Soft smile. Smells like sandalwood and good karma."

Qingxue dragged a pillow over her face.

"Let me guess. Rourou saw them holding hands once and blacklisted Ye Wan from every job in the city?"

"Yes!" Baozi said proudly. "You're very quick!"

"Because it's every webnovel ever."

Baozi brought out another screen. "Next, on their wedding night, she… um…"

Qingxue narrowed her eyes.

"She drugged him," Baozi said in a small voice. "To make sure they, you know. Sealed the deal."

Qingxue threw the pillow at the system.

"What is wrong with this woman!? She is crazy."

"She had very intense feelings," Baozi squeaked. "And also no sense of boundaries."

Qingxue got out of bed and started pacing.

"Let me get this straight. She forced him into marriage, ruined his first love, and then committed marital assault? What am I supposed to do? Knit sweaters and hope he forgets?"

Baozi brought up the last slide.

"Her final crime: excessive jealousy, paranoia, emotional manipulation. Oh, and once she got so mad she bought every seat on Mo Chen's flight so he couldn't go to a business trip."

"…What kind of Disney villain energy is that?"

Baozi hesitated. "He already filed for divorce. Do something to stop it."

"Stop. Just stop."

Baozi looked nervous. "Do you… still want the mission?"

Qingxue pulled a pillow over her face and screamed into it. Now she realised why director bai looked so smug while assigning her this department.

This mission was impossible. How will she win mo chen's heart when original female was psychotic villain. How can she have Mo Chen's love when he has valid reason to hate her. 

She layed on her expensive bed, regretting her choices. 

"I am dead already."

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